From MilesR: Peleliu Fleets Phase 1 (30 Points)

 

The next phase in the Peleliu project is building out the naval assets.  The primary US bombardment fleet consisted of 5 Battleships, 8 Cruisers and a whole "passel" of Destroyers.  The air arm was also very strong in the form of 3 Fleet Carriers, 5 Light Carries and 11 Escort Carriers.  The US players can position the fleets anywhere around the island and placement will be very important.  US naval gunfire had the range to hit anything on the island but struggled to be effective as they couldn't hit the reverse slopes and the Japanese would move to avoid the worst of the bombardments.  The US side will be able to reposition the bombardment fleet but they also need to guard the invasion fleet - there were constant rumors of Japanese naval assets stalking the vulnerable supply ships

3 of the 5 US Battleships from left to right, the Maryland, Tennessee and the Idaho.  Missing (and on order) are the Pennsylvania and the Mississippi.  All of these ships are 1/2400 GHQ models.  It's been years since I put together a GHQ ship and I forgot (i) how detail and fun they are to paint and (ii) how many teeny tiny pieces each one has...

A rare dry dock shot of the US Tennessee being upgraded for the impending Peleliu invasion.  Soooo many tiny pieces.  In an act of supreme mercy, the good folks at GHQ provide you with a few extra of just about every detail part.  Which was helpful as more than a few were sacrificed to the dark and hungry tiny parts gods that live under my workbench.

You'll also notice several different basing styles in this submission.  I'm testing out different techniques.  This one on the Battleships is the simplest but maybe the one I like the best - a base of Vallejo Prussian Blue with a dry brush sky blue.  Simple, fast and looks pretty good.

The wave effect on the bases is just  Vallejo modeling past that I slap on the bash and use a old brush provide a hint of waves.  Once set, the models are primed white and the painting begins.  It's better to be understated when sculpting waves - it's definitely a less is more kind of thing.

Next up are 3 US Sims Class Destroyers.  These are really simple models (single pieces) painted Vallejo Medium Sea grey, then washed with Nuln Oil and the highlight with the same Medium Sea Grey.  The bases are the more complicated than the models and look like they are sailing across a 1970's Disco themed Aquarium.  The base are painted turquoise, washed with Vallejo Blue wash and then hit with a home made blue tinted gloss gel.  The wakes are painted on with a homemade white gel.   The basing took way more time than painting the destroyers.

Two carriers - the Carrier Escort Sangamon on the left and the Light Carrier Independence on the right.  I don't plan to build all 19 carriers that were present.  They will be represented by 1 fleet Carrier , and 2 Light Carriers and 3 Escort Carriers - just enough to give a feel for the massive naval air power that the US had in it's employ.

Another look at the carriers - cant wait to start the midway class carrier!

The basing for the the CVE Sangamon (on the right this time) is the third option - it's just a turquoise base with a blue wash - no gloss gel or wake applied.

There will be a landing fleet made up of a few models, including this Landing Ship Dock or LSD.  For the game they'll be more of a fixed objective marker but I'm painting and basing them for future game play.  The basing style is also option #3 Turquoise with blue wash.

Finally, the IJN get some ships to - in the form of 4 I-19 class submarines and

2 Heavy Cruisers - the Tone (top right) and the Mogami (bottom left).  There are some Destroyers and another cruiser waiting to get assembles and painted.

I've always liked the look of the Japanese heavy Cruisers and while during the actual campaign there was no surface naval sorties there was a constant threat and who knows how badly the US players may roll on their random event table!  The subs will likely make an appearance but it will be very difficult to get past the destroyer screens - unless the US moves some of the fleet to better bombardment positions!

Well that's it - 15 ship bases.  The smaller bases are all 3 x 1 inches and the Battleships and Cruisers are all on 4 x1 inch bases.  Given the simplicity of both the DD's and sub, I would count them each as 1 ship so that's 10 1/2400 ship equivalents.  As for points, I leave that in the hands of my fellow minions!

Please do let me know you opinions on the basing style you like the most.  I've got a lot of ships to finish this coming week and need to know how to base them!

Friday Minion: I'm loving seeing this project come together Miles. Lovely work on these fleets. I think I prefer basing option 3. 

I just minioned some Victory at Sea vessels at 1/1800, which were given 6-8 points. So, applying some maths for these at 1/2400, I'll offer:

7 each for a battleship = x3 21

5 for a cruiser, carrier and the LSD x6 = 30

2 for a Destroyer or Submarine, acknowledging the simplicity of the work = 14

As PeterD kindly reminds us, Challenge precedent and long settled case law indicates that 1/2400 naval ships are granted 2 points a piece. Now, that seems to this Points-generous minion to be very stingy for a mighty Battleship, but about right for the destroyers and a little over-egged for the teensy subs. There are 15 ships, for the ten smaller ones I'll stick with 2 a piece, and I'll bend the rules to my whim and give 4 each to acknowledge the extra work on the five Battleships and Carriers, totalling 40 Points.